Video was taken inside Newark's water storage facility in the winter. An inspection
company used an underwater robotic camera to look. In Hebron, rust and aquatic growth were
spotted inside.

Over time, naturally occurring sediment in the water accumulates. Other times, aging
towers rust and flake. The worst problems come from old or damaged vents that go directly
into the tank. They are needed to keep the tower working properly. But when they are
sealed, all types of things can get through.

"If the screen is compromised in any way, you can get birds that wind up dying and falling into
the water," said Dave Gilligan of Dixon Engineering, a company that inspects water towers.

10 Investigates uncovered pictures of dead birds that apparently got through vents inside water
towers in Fairfield and Washington counties.

While the dead birds look bad, they are usually not a great health concern because
bacteria-killing chlorine is in the water. Still, people have suffered. In March,
people living in a Colorado town had to drink bottled water because of suspected contamination from
a non-chlorinated tank.

In 1993, bird droppings in a Missouri tank killed seven people.

Even the best tanks contain stuff you would not want to drink, Aker reported. To see it
firsthand, he climbed inside one to take a look.

The tower he climbed in New Bremen was refurbished a couple years ago, so it was thought it
might be one of the cleanest towers. Once Aker got up to the roof of the tower, things looked
fine. Then, he went inside the water bowl.

The new tower looked relatively clear but by no means spotless, Aker reported.

A crew found sediment, rust and mineral deposits so thick that it took a power washer to clear
it.

Some tanks go uninspected for years, Aker reported. Our investigation showed that
neglected towers are a fairly uncommon problem.

According to state guidelines, towers should be internally inspected at least every five
years. Several inspections have gone longer. A few of the inspections took much longer
than five years. After a 12-year wait, Hebron recently had an inspection. Plain City
went a decade in between inspections.

There is no record of any inspection in Darbyville, and Delaware has waited more than five years
between inspections.

Lee Yoakum, a Delaware city spokesman, said that inspecting the water tower would have created a
fire hazard during the few hours the water would have to be drained.

"If, during that time, there was a serious fire, we'd be in jeopardy of not being able to
service any of the city of Delaware," Yoakum said.

With no law to require inspections, folks in places like Delaware and Darbyville will just have
to keep wondering what's in their tower and their water.

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About 10TV

WBNS-TV’s on-line public inspection file can be found on the FCC website at 10tv.com/fcc. Individuals with disabilities may contact Becky Richey at pubfile@10tv.com or 614.460.3785 for assistance with access to the WBNS-TV public inspection files.